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[edting]

This is a really entertaining book. In 1905, a wealthy couple has an auto accident. The pregnant woman gives birth to twins as she dies.

25 years later, 12 guests are stranded at a mansion for 12 days. Each day a different present arrives with a different cryptic note. This happens during the 12 days of Christmas. Two murders occur during this time period.

Ellery cannot solve the murder. 27 years later, the solution comes to him.

SPOILER AHEAD






This is a really well done book, but the solution bothers me. First, it's so clever that it would never stand up in court. Also, in order to figure out the solution yourself, you need a working knowledge of (I am not making this up) the ancient Phoenician alphabet, as well as the shorthand markings of copy editors. I am tempted to give this book 5 stars, but I'm docking it one star for the Phoenician stuff.

Misc points:

1) The book establishes Ellery Queen's birth year at 1905. Thus he is 52 when he finally solves the murder.

2) Ellery's Duesenberg is a 1924 open model with 137,000 miles on it at the time of the story. By 1957 he is driving a roadster of some sort.

3) The zodiac figures into the plot, and it is revealed that Ellery is a Gemini. Thus, Ellery's birthday falls somewhere around June of 1905.